China calls for limited Oscar coverage after Hong Kong film was nominated
Hong Kong, Mar 17 (efe-epa).- China has asked the media to limit the coverage of the Oscars and downplay the awards ceremony after the nomination of a documentary that chronicles the pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong.
According to Hong Kong’s Apple Daily, the Central Propaganda Department has asked the state-run media outlets to restrain the coverage of the 93rd Academy Awards to “avoid embarrassment” and “for the sake of political correctness.”
The newspaper also reported that state-run television CCTV plans not to air the live coverage of the ceremony that will take place in Los Angeles on April 25.
The government has ordered the media outlets to cover the awards that are not seen as controversial, according to Apple Daily.
A mainland Chinese official allegedly said the call had to do with the nomination of “Do Not Split” and Beijing-born filmmaker Chloé Zhao for best director.
The 35-minute documentary was nominated for best short documentary category.
“Do Not Split”, directed by Norwegian Anders Hammer, is about the 2019 months-long anti-government protest movement in Hong Kong.
Its official website says the film “captures the determination and sacrifices of the protesters.”
Zhao sparked criticism in China in February after she won the Golden Globe best director award for the film “Nomadland.”
The subject of criticism was an interview she gave back in 2013 in which she described China as “a place where there are lies everywhere.” EFE-EPA
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